Italian regulators imposed two fines totalling 10 million euros (over Rs.80 crore) for misleading their users and selling their data in discretion. The competition watchdog handed Facebook the fines for discouraging users from trying to limit how the company shares their data.
“Facebook misleadingly gets people to sign up… without informing them in an immediate and adequate way of how the data they will provide will be harvested for commercial purposes”, read a statement from Italy’s AGCM consumer and market watchdog.
The authority has directed Facebook to publish an apology to users on its website and on its app. Reacting to this, a Facebook spokesperson said they are reviewing the authority’s decision.